Mining Results Released

A mining company conducting exploration activities near Babbit, Minnesota, is expressing some optimism with the release of its latest findings.

Franconia Minerals is looking at develop an underground mine at Birch Lake for copper, nickle, platinum and palladium.

The company says the latest results are helping to adequately determine how much resources are available.

District Hit by Vandals

The Rainy River district continues hit by senseless acts of vandalism.

Provincial Police says over the weekend, a vehicle was used to cause damage to the parking lot at the LaVallee Fire Monument.

The Emo Soccer Fields were also torn up by a vehicle driving on the grass before leaving tread marks behind on the concrete pad of a nearby picnic area.

Three signs at the north end of Highway 613 were spray painted.

And last Thursday, a home in Emo was sprayed with an oily substance.

Police say they're looking for any information from the public to aid in their investigation.

FACS Consider Merger

Two northwestern Ontario children's aid agencies are looking to become one.

Family and Children Services Rainy River and the Kenora-Patricia Child and Family Services are seeking provincial approval to merge effective April 1, 2011.

Rainy River board chair Bob McGreevy says funding challenges led them to explore the idea.

"At the outset that was clearly the motivation for us to seek partnerships," says McGreevy. "However as we move through this it's become clear this is a process that will strengthen both organizations."

McGreevy admits there will be some staffing changes, but all of those details still have to be worked out.

College Honours Area Grads

(A record 61 graduates from Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances received diplomas and certificates at Tuesday's Convocation Ceremonies at the Townshend Theatre)


An Atikokan woman has won Confederation College's highest awards a graduating student can receive - doing so without stepping into a classroom.

Barbara Kwasnicia earned three awards, including the prestigious Governor General's Academic Medal, after completing the Social Service Worker program through distance education.

She's the College's first distance ed student to receive the award.

"I hope that it just shows not only other people in the region who have to access education through distance education," says Kwasnicia, "that you don't have to be fresh out of high school to do it and anyone who wants it bad enough can be successful."

Kwasnicia was one of a record 61 students to receive diploma and certificates at Convocation ceremonies held Tuesday night for graduates from the campus in Fort Frances.

Praise for New Library

Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is getting high some praise.

Wendy Newman, a senior fellow at the University of Toronto applauds the introduction of audio and video conferencing technology.

She says increased local use can help convince others still reluctant about the technology.

"This is one of the respects in which the north and communities that are farther away can actually be the teachers," says Newman, "be the people who say this works and here's how and join us and let's get this done."

Newman says the technology can save both time and money for businesses and increase training opportunities for staff.

Chiefs Meeting Continues

First Nation Leaders from across the province resume their meetings at Couchiching First Nations today (Wednesday).

They're here for the Ontario Chiefs Conference.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse says they're tackling a number of issues.

"Education, the inequity in terms of the kind of funding that we do get from government, the inequity in social justice," says Toulouse. "You name it, the various sectors that need First Nations leaders redress."

Today's (Wednesday's) session is to be highlighted by a visit from Assembly of First Nation Chief Shawn Atleo.

Rent Guidelines in Place

Ontario's rent increase guideline for 2011 has been set at 0.7 per cent.

The guideline is the maximum amount a landlord can increase the rent of most sitting tenants without seeking approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The government says it's the lowest guideline in the 35-year history of Ontario rent regulation.

SuperCorp. Protest

The opposition and labour groups are raising the alarm over talk of creating a so-called SuperCorp.

It would oversee a portion of provincial electricity, liquor and lottery assets that could potentially be sold off.

Premier McGuinty says no decision has been made, but admits his government is considering such a sale to raise money.

Minnesota Civic Leaders Meet

Minnesota mayors, city council members and city administrators are getting together in St. Cloud this week to focus on their financial problems.

The League of Minnesota Cities holds its annual conference starting today (Wednesday).

The conference will focus on financial strategies for weathering the economic downturn and declining state aid.

Monopoly Passes on Northwestern Ontario Cities

Northwestern Ontario cities have been told "Do Not Pass Go and Do Not collect 200 dollars."

Both Kenora and Thunder Bay failed in their bids to earn a place on the new Canadian Edition of Monopoly.

The city of Winnipeg is also not on the board.

The only northern Ontario community on the board is North Bay.